Deer hunting is a year-round process

Deer season is still several months away, but if you plan on having a good chance to score a major kill this fall, you need to make sure you have done everything possible this summer to increase your odds.

The months of June, July and August are critical to your preparation. Whether you lease or own the property on which you hunt, there are some things to get done. There are also some things that you should have already done (like planting food plots), but it may not be too late even now.

You want to get the deer accustomed to finding some of their favorite foods so they will stay close by all summer long. Clay and iron peas, clover and oats are just a few of the choices you have.

I talked to Morgan County resident Jeff Banks, who is an expert in the field of growing big bucks and the author of "Producing Power Bucks The Banks Farm Way."

Banks and his hunting club members have put together one of the most prolific tracts in the state and take their trophy management seriously. Their efforts produced a Boone and Crockett deer that scored over 172 and they take deer on a regular basis in the 140-160 range.

Banks was kind enough to offer the following tips:

► Things that need to be done now are supplemental feeding (you need to build and put out feeders), put out mineral blocks (not just salt blocks) and put out trail cameras.

► With supplemental feeding, select protein-rich food so your deer will maintain their health and put on weight.

► Feeding the deer on your property is a year-round process (except for hunting season), but even if you start now, the benefits will be obvious when you start taking deer in the fall.

► You also need to check your mineral blocks and trail cameras on a regular basis so you can get an idea if the areas are getting regular traffic. If you don't see signs of use, you may want to consider moving the minerals, feeders and cameras to different locations on the property.

► As you get into July, it wouldn't hurt to get a soil sample done to make sure the areas where you are going to

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